PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Pirates right-hander Brandon Cumpton had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his elbow today, which will keep him out for the next year and cut into the team’s starting pitching depth.

Cumpton felt pain in the elbow during a live batting practice session at Pirate City. He visited Dr. James Andrews Monday, and Andrews performed the procedure today.

Along with whichever starter does not earn the final spot in the rotation – presumably Vance Worley or Jeff Locke – Cumpton represented the first line of defense in the event of an injury to a starter. He pitched in 16 games, starting 10 of them, in 2014 and had a 4.89 ERA in 70 innings. In 71 innings for Class AAA Indianapolis, he had a 3.04 ERA.

Casey Sadler, Radhames Liz, Stolmy Pimentel, Clayton Richard and Nick Kingham are other starting depth options. The Pirates must put Locke or Worley in the bullpen because they are both out of minor league options and cannot be sent to the minors without clearing waivers.

Tommy John surgery is required when the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow, which connects the bones in the upper and lower arm, becomes damaged or torn. The procedure replaces the UCL with a tendon from another part of the body. Recovery takes at least a year.

Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.

First Published: March 10, 2015, 8:26 p.m.